Game apparatus with spinner device and selectively usable stop member



Oct. 12, 1965 H. R. WELLS ETAL 3,211,455?

GAME APPARATUS WITH SPINNER DEVICE AND SELECTIVELY USABLE STOP MEMBERFiled Jan. 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS.

. HERBERT R. WELL: 0 MARY M. WELL! ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 H. R. WELLSETAL GAME APPARATUS WITH SPINNER DEVICE AND SELECTIVELY USABLE STOPMEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1965 INVENTORS. HERBERT R. WELLSMARY M. WEL. L S

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,211,458 GAME APPARATUS WITH SPINNERDEVICE AND SELECTIVELY USABLE STOP MEMBER Herbert R. Wells and Mary M.Wells, both of 1458 La Riata Drive, Whittier, Calif. Filed .Ian. 7,1963, Ser. No. 249,872

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-134) The present invention relates generally to(games, and more particularly to improvements in games to be played bytwo or more persons.

In the past, various types of games have been devised which comprisegameboards and tokens or pawns for movement on the board in apredetermined path or pattern. Typically, such gameboards have beenprovided with a playing surface having a segmental path to be followedby the tokens. An advancing device, such as a pair of dice or a spinnermechanism, is usually included as part of the game for determining theprogression of the various tokens along the pathway provided on theplaying surface of the gameboard.

Although such games have heretofore been provided in various differentstyles and designs, they have, virtually without exception, lackedinterest and excitement, particularly for young people. That is, themere procedure of taking turns operating the dice or spinner device toee which of the players tokens can go from a starting line to a finishline on the pathway is uneventful, particularly after the game has beenplayed a number of times.

In view of the foregoing, it has been recognized for a considerablelength of time that such \games should be improved to develop someunusual and exciting events. To this end, the present invention has beendevised. It comprises a structure for use in playing a game such as toprovide results and events which heretofore have been unobtainable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game structurewhich enables a given player to receive a reward.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a gamestructure which includes means for retaining a piece of candy to begiven to one of the players upon the occurrence of a predeterminedevent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game structurehaving a gameboard formed With a receptacle for holding a piece ofcandy.

Another object of the present invention is to teach the construction andoperation of a game related to experiences at sea, there being means forretaining a piece of candy in the shape of a life preserver to beawarded to a player of the game upon occurrence of a predetermined seaexperience as defined on the playing surface of the gameboard.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spinnermechanism having a rotatable member the end portion of which is annular,there also being an elongated means for engaging such annular endportion as the rotatable member is caused to spin.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide astructure for a game as characterized above which is simple andinexpensive to manufacture and which is rugged and dependable inoperation.

The novel features which we consider characteristic of our invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself,however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, togetherwith additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understoodfrom the following description of specific embodiments when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the game structure;

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FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spinner device used inplaying the game;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a po tion of the gamestructure;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFIGURE 4 of the drawings;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line66 of FIGURE 5 of the drawings; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of tokens to be used in the gamestructure.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein apreferred form of the present invention. Such game structure isidentified generally with the numeral 10 and comprises a gameboard 12having a playing surface 12a Whereon various indications andinstrumentalities are provided for playing the game as will hereinafterbe explained.

Gameboard 12 may be formed of wood, metal, plastic, or any similarmaterial which can be formed as shown in the drawings. Preferably,however, gameboard 12 should be formed of material which can be formedin a press so that large quantities can be produced within a shortperiod of time.

Gameboard 12 is formed with three or more supporting legs, as shown at14 and 16 of FIGURE 2, whereby the main portion of the board may besupported in spaced relation to the surface of a table or the likewhereon the game is to be played. Such gameboard is further formed witha plurality of through openings as shown at 18, 20, 22', and 24. Anannular raised portion is provided about each opening as shown at 18a,20a, 22a, and 24a respectively. In each of such openings there isprovided a container 26 for holding substantially any type of fluid suchas water for purposes which will hereinafter be described. Suchcontainers, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, shouldfit within the respective openings such as to be in spaced relation tothe surface of the table on which the gameboard 12 is positioned.

Board 12 is also formed with a plurality of semi-cylindrically shapedwells or cavities 30, 32, 34 and 36 in spaced relation about theperiphery of the board. Since such semi-cylindrical cavities and thecontainers 26 are usuable for playing the game, it is desirable thatsuch cavities and the aforementioned openings 18, 20, 22 and 24 in board12 be formed about the periphery of the board so as to be within easyreach of the players of the game.

The central portion 38 of gameboard 12 is formed substantially flat forretaining a spinning device 40 in operating position as will hereinafterbe described. Irnmediately beneath such flat portion 38 of board 12 ismagnetic means 42 attached to the underside thereof.

About portion 38 of board 12 is an annular raised portion or ridge 44 tosimulate a life preserver as will hereinafter become more apparent.

In like manner, there is provided about annular portion 44 a pair ofconcentric raised portions 46 and 48. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 1of the drawings, surrounding the annular raised portion 48 is an annularportion 50 which is substantially fiat and whereon there is provided asegmental path 52 having segments 52a which are contiguously arranged toprovide a continuous path as shown in the drawing.

Boa-rd 12, at predetermined locations in both the inner annular raisedportion 46 and the outer annular raised portion 48, is provided with areceptacle 54 as shown in detail in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Such .locationsare shown at 56, 58, and 60 in the inner annular portion, and at 62, 64and 66 in the outer annular portion.

Each such receptacle 54 is provided with a cavity 70 of predeterminedshape for receiving and retaining a piece of candy or other eatablematerial 72 as will hereinafter be explained in greater detail. Eachreceptacle also includes a cover 74 formed of transparent material, suchas plastic or the like, to render the eatable material 72 therewithinviewable to the players of the game. Each such transparent cover 74 ishinged, by suitable hinged means 76, to the main portion of thegameboard 12.

The cover of each of the receptacles 54 should be of such configurationand size as to be contiguous with the adjacent portions of the annularraised portions 46 and 48 respectively. As will hereinafter become moreapparent, where the annular portions 46 and 48 are not provided with areceptacle 54 they need not be hollow but rather may be solid, ifdesired.

As will hereinafter be explained in greater detail, the shape of thecandy 72 or other eatable food should have a correlation to thetrue-life experiences depicted by the game. That is, whereas theindications on the playing surface 12a of board 12 relate to experiencesat sea, the candy 72 is in the form of a life preserver, an articlerelating to life at sea and which, under certain circumstances, may playa prominent and vital role in a given happening at sea. Thus, thedepression or cavity 70 formed in gameboard 12 immediately beneath eachcover 74 is provided with an annular shape corresponding to the annularconfiguration of the piece of candy 72. As such, the candy is retainedin a relatively clean environment, free of any foreign material normallyfound on the playing surface of the gameboard.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the spinning device40 comprises a base member 80 having an enlarged lower end portion 82and a reduced upper end portion 84. A rotatable member 86 in the form ofa boat is mounted on the top of the reduced end portion 84 by means of ascrew 88.

The extended end portion of rotatable member 86 is annular in shape asshown at 90 to simulate a life preserver. Attached firmly to theunderside of base 80 are suitable magnetically permeable members 92which cooperate with the magnetic members 42 attached to the under sideof gameboard 12 to retain the spinner device 40 in operating position onthe flat portion 38 of board 12.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown an elongated rod or pole 94 for use inengaging the annular end portion 90 of rotatable member 86 as the latteris rotated.

Positioned within the semi-cylindrical cavities 30, 32, 34 and 36 arecylindrically shaped packages 96 of candy shaped as life preservers.Such packages of candy can be used to replenish the various receptacles54 as necessary, as will hereinafter be described.

For movement along the segmental path 52 there is provided a pluralityof tokens or pawns. Such tokens, as shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings,should correspond to difierent activities of persons within theenvironment which is the subject matter of the game. That is, as shownin such figure, such tokens are in the form of a swimmer, a raft, and aboat.

The raised annular portion 44 is divided into three equal portions ordivisions 44a, 44b, and 44c by suitable separating lines. Each suchdivision is then provided with a picture or name for indicating one ofthe three tokens to be used in the game.

The concentric annular raised portions 46 and 48 are likewise dividedinto equi-angular segments by suitable dividing lines. Each segment ofthe annular portions 46 and 48 is provided with an indication (words orpicture) of a structure, apparatus, device or environmental conditionrelated to happenings at sea. For instance, each segment of the annularportion 46 contains a drawing or indication of sharks, octopuses,icebergs, life preservers, or the like. In similar fashion, each segmentof the raised annular portion 48 shows or describes experiences orinstrumentalities which are predominant within harbors or near the shoreof an ocean or other large body of water. For instance, each suchsegment in raised portion 48 shows one of the following: beach umbrella,rain storm, hot dog sandwich, life preserver, and the like.

Each segment 46a and 48a in each of the annular raised portions 46 and48, respectively, is also provided with a numeral. As will be explainedin further detail, such numerals are for use with the spinner device 40in determining the movement of the tokens along the segmental path 52.

Each of the annular raised portions 18a, 20a, 22a and 24a is dividedinto five equal parts by means of suitable dividing lines. Within eacharea or segment of such an nular raised portions, there is provided oneletter of the word SHORE. Thus, whereas the segmental path 52 is relatedto the happenings on the open sea, the pathways afforded by the segmentsabout the various containers 26 relate to happenings close to theshoreline of the sea.

The remaining portion of the playing surface of board 12 may be providedwith words or pictures to correspond to the various indications on thesegments of the annular raised portions 46 and 48. That is, as willhereinafter become more apparent, certain of the indications or pictureson the raised portions 46 and 48 will require a players token to beremoved to a separate area. As such, the various remaining areas of theboard may be provided with corresponding figures and words, and hencethe tokens may be removed thereto at the appropriate time.

Playing the subject game is commenced by the various players acquiringone of the tokens shown in FIGURE 7 and to be used in traversing thevarious segmental paths. To accomplish this, each player takes a turn atrotating the member 86 of the spinner 40 while the latter is positionedon the relatively fiat portion 38 of the gameboard 12. In accordancewith the position in which such rotatable member 86 comes to rest withrespect to the segments 44a, 44b and-44c of the annular raised portion44, the particular player is given the corresponding token. That is, ifthe rotatable member 86 stops within the angular segment 440, he isgiven the token which identifies a swimmer. In like manner, if suchmember 86 comes to rest in either of the segments 44b and 440, theplayer is provided with the token corresponding to the raft or boatrespectively.

The segmental path 52 is provided with a beginning or starting line 52b.The tokens are positioned at line 52b and each player, in succession,rotates the member 86 of the spinner 40. Throughout such operation ofspinner 40, the latter will be held in place by magnetic means 42 and92. That is, the magnetic lines of force of the magnet members 42 passthrough the gameboard 12 and cooperate with the magnetically permeablemembers 92 to hold the spinner in place.

After the player manually rotates the member 86, he is permitted toattempt to stop it wherever he so desires. However, such member can bestopped only by proper manipulation of the elongated rod or pole 94 soas to cause it to engage the annular end portion of the rotating member86. That is, by catching the annular end portion on the rod 94 at thedesired position with respect to the segments on the annular raisedportion 46, it is possible to control the advancement of the token.

In traversing the segmental path 52, the indications on the annularportions 46 are used. That is, each player advances his token from thestart line 52b the number of segments corresponding to the number in thesegment of the raised annular portion 46 corresponding to the positionof the rotatable arm 86. The number of segments 52a of the path 52 to beadvanced by a given token is indicated in the particular segment ofannular portion 46 as shown at 4611.

The object of the game, of course, is to proceed faster than the tokensof the other players to the line 52b, and thereafter to encircle, asquickly as possible, the appropriate one of the containers of fluid 26.In addition to the player advancing his token or pawn in accordance withthe numeral in the particular segment 46a, he is also subject to thecircumstance or experience shown in that segment, if appropriate. Thatis, if the token is that of a swimmer, and the pointer or rotatable arm86 of the spinner 40 comes to rest on a segment showing swimmers cramps,the swimmer is thereby considered to be suffering from cramps. As such,he is in danger and cannot be considered out of this danger until, atone of his subsequent turns, he causes the arm 86 of the spinner to cometo rest at one of the receptacles 54. Such result can be accomplishedeither by allowing the arm to freely come to rest or it may bepositioned at one of the receptacles 54 by means of the pole 94 ashereinbefore described.

In either event, however, the swimmer is considered to have been rescuedfrom his danger and, as a reward, is given the candy life preserver 72in the particular receptacle 54. Thereafter, the particular receptacle54 can be replenished from the packages of candy in the varioussemi-cylindrical cavities 30, 32, 34 and 36.

A comparable sequence of events takes place if the player spins themember 86 to a segment indicating attack by sharks. Such danger wouldprevail until the player Wins one of the various life preservers. Itwill be noted that a life preserver would be most appropriate andeffective in rescuing a swimmer from either a condition of cramps or anattack by sharks. Other dangers and rescues are provided for the raftand boat.

Thus, the various tokens or pawns are caused to follow the segmentalpath 52, various dangers being encountered and subsequently overcome bymeans of the life preservers. Other types of rescues can be provided inthe segments of the annular portion 46, such as the acquisition of apole for a raft after the original pole has been blown away by a stormor the like. Such alternatives, of course, are within the skill andimagination of the maker of the game, and are contemplated within thescope of this invention.

After each token has followed the path 52, it is then considered withinthe harbor area. As such, the said token is transferred to one of thecontainers 26 for water. The tokens are formed of wood, plastic or othersuitable floatable material so as to float on the surface of the waterwithin the containers 26.

Initially, the token is positioned Within the water adjacent the segmentdesignated S. Thereafter, the spinner 40 is operated in the manner abovedescribed. In order to move the token within the container 26, theindications on the raised annular portion 48 are employed with thespinner 40. That is, the token is advanced from one lettered segment toanother about the respective container 26 in accordance with the numberin the particular segment 48a of the annular portion 48 indicated by thespinner 40. Also, the true-life experiences indicated in such segment ofportion 48 indicate the calamities, dangers, and the like which befallthe swimmer, raft, or boat within the harbor of a large ocean. Also, asabove described in detail, it is possible for the individual players torescue their tokens from such harbor dangers in which they find them,merely by causing the rotatable member 86 of the spinner 40 to come torest at one of the receptacles 54 in the annular portion 48 of gameboard12. That is, as above described, when the arm 86 of the spinner 40 comesto rest at any one of the segments 62, 64 and 66 of the annular portion48, the hinged cover thereof can be opened and the candy rewardtherewithin given to the particular player.

The tokens are caused to float from the segment S to the segment H, andultimately to the segment identified with the letter E. The first playerwhose token goes from this position to the land is considered the winnerof the game.

In addition to having the tokens float on the fluid within thecontainers 26, it may be found desirable to have certain of the dangersshown in the various segments of the annular portion 48 formed offloatable material and positioned within such container. That is, it maybe desirable to form an iceberg out of plastic foam material and toinsert the same in the respective container 26 when one of the tokenstherewithin is in danger by virtue of icebergs. Such additionalinstrumentalities tend to add to the realism of the game, and provide amore direct correspondence to the true-life experiences.

It is thus seen that the present invention teaches a game structurehaving means for retaining eatable rewards, which rewards are given to aplayer upon occurrence of a predetermined condition. More specifica'lly,such rewards, by means of their shape or configuration, relate to thetrue-life experiences simulated by the game so as to be offered to theplayer only under those conditions wherein the real-life correspondingdevice Would be appropriate. Further, the present invention teaches agame structure wherein fluid containers are employed for receiving thetokens, to cause the latter to float therein, to thereby add to therealism of the experiences depicted or simulated by the game. Also, thisinvention teaches the construction and operation of a game structurewhereby a spinner device is firmly held in place on a gameboard. Suchspinner mechanism is particularly unusual due to the annular end portionto be engaged by a player so as to cause the spinner to stop at thedesired position.

Although we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of ourinvention, we are fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A game related to experiences on the seat comprising in combination,a game board having a playing surfaceprovided with a path divided intosegments identifying different experiences on the sea, at least twotokens for individual movement along said path each of which correspondsto a separate player of the game, a receptacle formed in said board, apiece of candy in said receptacle to be awarded to one of said playersupon his token occupying a predetermined one of said segments ofsaidpath, and means for determining the movement of said tokens on saidboard comprising a spinner having a base and a manually rotatable memberthereon formed with an annular end portion, said means furthercomprising an elongated stop member for selective manual insertionwithin said annular end portion of said rotatable member, whereby saidrotatable member can be stopped as desired while rotating to determinethe movement of said tokens.

2. A game related to experiences on the sea according to claim 1 whereinsaid annular end portion is formed as a life preserv-er to be engaged bysaid stop member as desired.

3. A game related to experiences on the seat comprising in combination,a game board having a playing surface provided with a path divided int-osegments identifying different experiences on the sea, at least twotokens for individual movement along said path each of which correspondsto a separate player of the game, a receptacle formed in said board, apiece of candy in said receptacle to be awarded to one of said playersupon his token occupying a predetermined one of said segments of saidpath, and means for determining the movement of said tokens on saidboard comprising a spinner having a relatively stationary base and amanually rotatable member thereon formed as a miniature rescue boatcarrying an elongated member provided with an annular end portion formedas a life preserver, said means further comprising an elongated stopmember formed as a rescue pole for determine the movement of saidtokens.

4. 'A game comprising in combination, a game board having a playingsurface divided into predetermined segments,'a spinner on said playingsurface having a manu ally rotatable member to spin over said segmentsand formed with a through opening, an elongated stop memher forselective manual insertion in the through opening of said rotatablemember to cause the latter to stop at one of said segments, and meansformed in said game board at one of said segments for retaining candycomprising a receptacle recessed within said game board to permitrotation of said rotatable member thereover and having a transparentcover to permit the player manipulating said stop member to identify thesegments having said candy.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTSFrance. Great Britain. Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

4. A GAME COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A GAME BOARD HAVING A PLAYINGSURFACE DIVIDED INTO PREDETERMINED SEGMENTS, A SPINNER ON SAID PLAYINGSURFACE HAVING A MANUALLY ROTATABLE MEMBER TO SPIN OVER SAID SEGMENTSAND FORMED WITH A THROUGH OPENING, AN ELONGATED STOP MEMBER FORSELECTIVE MANUAL INSERTION IN THE THROUGH OPENING OF SAID ROTATABLEMEMBER TO CAUSE THE LATTER TO STOP AT ONE OF SAID SEGMENTS, AND MEANSFORMED IN SAID GAME BOARD AT ONE OF SAID SEGMENTS FOR RETAINING CANDYCOMPRISING A RECEPTACLE RECESSED WITHIN SAID GAME BOARD TO PERMITROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER THEREOVER AND HAVING A TRANSPARENTCOVER TO PERMIT THE PLAYER MANIPULATING SAID STOP MEMBER TO IDENTIFY THESEGMENTS HAVING SAID CANDY.